Hiroshi Ishiguro creates his creepiest robot yet, the Telenoid R1 (video)

Sure, creating freakish humanoid clones is Hiroshi Ishiguro's primary hobby, but his latest work takes a couple steps outside the Uncanny Valley. The Telenoid R1 telepresence robot trades extremities for an androgynous doll-like body, which researchers at Osaka University and ATR describe as "soft and pleasant" but strikes us as something we'd see crawling out of the depths of hell on stump-like arms. (Perhaps Ishiguro was going for Casper the Friendly Ghost.) The $35,000 prototype transmits both the voice and head motions of a remote operator, allowing dutiful Japanese individuals to visit their elders via internet-equipped PCs, and a final version will actually go on sale later this year for around $8,000 should said elders agree with the latest in puffy white design. Watch a sample visit after the break.

[mrqs Posted Aug 2nd 2010 4:39AM]

if it's his creepiest yet, how is it "taking a couple steps outside the uncanny valley"?

[mrqs Posted Aug 2nd 2010 4:40AM]

@mrqs

and yes, it does remind me of something in diablo 2 act 4

[Aggot Posted Aug 2nd 2010 4:45AM]

@mrqs I could never sleep with that thing in my house.

[seventythree Posted Aug 2nd 2010 4:46AM]

@mrqs

Yes, it only makes sense if they meant to write "taking a couple steps into the uncanny value".

Also, hit it for items.

[sakz Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:01AM]

@mrqs

Its good that japan is an island.....any robot uprising could be contained quickly.....

[Blackstar Posted Aug 2nd 2010 6:18AM]

@mrqs

Boxing Helena anyone? O.o

[Bocefuss4500 Posted Aug 2nd 2010 7:33AM]

@mrqs
i think i saw this thing in one of my nightmares

[mrqs Posted Aug 2nd 2010 7:35AM]

@sakz

http://hackedgadgets.com/wp-content/snake_robot_3.jpg

[Kurian Posted Aug 2nd 2010 9:21AM]

@sakz With a couple more well placed nuclear warheads.

[liin Posted Aug 2nd 2010 9:25AM]

@Aggot

I can't believe "sleeping with that thing" even crossed your mind. Not that other robots makes that thought less creepy.

[Hraefn Posted Aug 2nd 2010 11:53AM]

@mrqs Is Japan planning of dealing with their growing elderly population by scaring them to death?

[IUKonstantin Posted Aug 2nd 2010 12:24PM]

@mrqs
Eh, it beats actually visiting grandpa in the nursing home. Haha, how cruel and cold!

[tikigawd Posted Aug 2nd 2010 1:07PM]

@mrqs

It's the talking robotic fetus

[Chip Posted Aug 2nd 2010 2:03PM]

@mrqs The uncanny valley is that spot where something looks ALMOST human, but is just barely strange enough to creep you out. This goes in the other direction. It is not trying to look human. It's creepy in it's own right. That's why it's outside the uncanny valley.

[GaryZ Posted Aug 2nd 2010 2:49PM]

I can't believe there's no boob touching jokes in the first page of comments!

[DougieBear Posted Aug 2nd 2010 4:17PM]

@mrqs

It looks like pillow-man's ghost.

[icon808 Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:16PM]

@sakz
Even Godzilla & Mothra would be creeped out by this...

[0to60 Posted Aug 2nd 2010 9:14PM]

@mrqs
Kill it! Kill it with fire!

[Bumix Posted Aug 3rd 2010 1:00AM]

@sakz I don't know, but this robots body seems perfect for swimming!

[Simnol Posted Aug 2nd 2010 4:43AM]

Looks like the friendliest ghost I know.

[Simnol Posted Aug 2nd 2010 4:44AM]

@Simnol

I said that as a joke but I'm now genuinely scared someone has caught Japanese Casper.

Jasper...

[psych2l Posted Aug 2nd 2010 10:29AM]

@Simnol It wants arms and legs, like YOURS!

[GeneralThade Posted Aug 2nd 2010 1:23PM]

@Simnol

You and I both know the ultimate goal in Japan is to make the most epic doll ever to have sex with. If the Robotic uprising is started by Japan, the robots won't be killing us, they'll be sex crazed Robo-Rapists.

[Ducman69 Posted Aug 2nd 2010 4:48AM]

Use a real-doll chassis and Kikuko Inoue for the voice and we'll talk.

[Stormstrike Posted Aug 2nd 2010 4:49AM]

Lol, Fleshlight 2.0

^_^

[NewSc2 Posted Aug 2nd 2010 4:50AM]

@Stormstrike There's no way I could stay erect with that thing staring, squirming, and talking to me.

[Stormstrike Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:32AM]

@NewSc2

Thats what you say *now*...

^_°

[dergachoff Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:00AM]

Ghost in the Shell!

[gargle Posted Aug 2nd 2010 8:36AM]

Casper!!!!!!

[Wiggy Fuzz Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:00AM]

it looks like a boo bah.

for the benefit of creeping everybody out further i shall now link to a video of the intro for the boo bah's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ-nif4rXGs

[hamoor Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:15AM]

1 step further to our elimination by the robots

[pika2000 Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:15AM]

"a final version will actually go on sale later this year"
Wow. That's the big news, that this will be available for purchase in less than 6 months.

[Sly C Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:17AM]

so what's this thing used for? i can't watch the videos right now, and engadget's and gizmodo's descriptions don't really clear that up.

reminds me of the thing at the table from pan's labyrinth though.

[Ducman69 Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:22AM]

@Sly C It holds your iPad while you look for your netbook so you can watch videos online.

[Gregorian Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:27AM]

All these robots seem to be designed to creep out old people.
"Grandpa, I know you are lonely and infirm, sitting alone all day at home. So here's a weird semi-human alien robot to help you pass the time."

[incognito Posted Aug 2nd 2010 6:25AM]

@Gregorian, keeping old people on the edge may prevent dementia...

[tobsmonster2 Posted Aug 2nd 2010 7:15AM]

@incognito
Is it wrong that I just want to punch it?

[thinkspring Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:31AM]

Reminds me of one of those creates from the red planet scene in Phantasm.

[Deloren Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:37AM]

Spermbot....

[xtian63 Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:43AM]

@Deloren

my sentiments exactly

[Sloozebury Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:37AM]

God, I'd love to rub nubs with that thing.

[timmyjan Posted Aug 2nd 2010 5:55AM]

he will get smart and take over the world.
this is very creepy

[n1hmrd Posted Aug 2nd 2010 6:06AM]

Welcome to the twilight zone .......

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 2nd 2010 6:37AM]

That's what it would look like if a sperm developed into a baby without sans egg.

[branchedout Posted Aug 2nd 2010 6:51AM]

It looks like the robot's giving him the "Son, I am dissapoint" look.

[Dr Roetker Posted Aug 2nd 2010 7:02AM]

i think it's quite disturbing we're developing creepy robots to entertain our elderly because we can't be bothered to do it ourselves anymore...

[n230099 Posted Aug 2nd 2010 7:08AM]

Call back when they're anatomically correct.

[Nickmate Posted Aug 2nd 2010 7:43AM]

If I had this, ide give it a realistic skin texture and feel, realistic facial features(har, wrinkles etc..) arms and legs that can't move but still look real and cloth

[leigh Posted Aug 2nd 2010 7:51AM]

Hawt.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 2nd 2010 7:54AM]

Looks like a prop from a Cronenberg film.